State university students pay less fees, but complain more<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lifestyle-wise, Hendra and Indri -- both students of the state-
\nowned University of Indonesia (UI) -- pretty much follow the
\ntrends, and indulge in the same types of activities that their
\npeers at prominent private universities in Jakarta do.<\/p>\n
Hendra, a law student, travels to the Depok campus of UI in
\nhis silver Toyota Avanza, while Indri drives a Peugeot 206 to and
\nfrom the UI, where she studies psychology.<\/p>\n
The two said they spent their weekends in cafes or shopping
\nmalls.<\/p>\n
Hendra -- whose father is the director of a private bank -- is
\nagainst the university's decision to raise tuition fees. She says
\nthat she wants to back the hundreds of students who protested
\nagainst the policy on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The UI should not raise its admission fees, that's just
\nmaking it harder for students of poor families,\" the 19-year-old
\nstudent said.<\/p>\n
Although he observed the number of students of well-off
\nfamilies was on the rise at the university, he said that did not
\njustify the increase in admission fees.<\/p>\n
\"The point is that the UI is a state university, which
\nreceives a government subsidy. Therefore, it cannot compare
\nitself with private universities in its tuition-fee policy.<\/p>\n
UI director of academic affairs Muhammad Anis said that out of
\nthe 24,000 students of the university who are pursuing bachelor
\ndegrees, only 20 percent, or 4,800, of them cannot afford to pay
\ntuition fees.<\/p>\n
However, Indri, a second-year student, said the UI could not
\nuse statistics to determine its admission fees.<\/p>\n
\"It's true that, nowadays, the number of students from wealthy
\nfamilies is higher, but that doesn't mean the UI should
\narbitrarily increase its admission and tuition fees,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old student asserted that many students, including
\nherself, chose the UI for its reputation and low fees.<\/p>\n
\"It's not a private university, and therefore cannot charge
\nfees as high as those imposed by private universities, regardless
\nof the students' financial status,\" said Indri, whose father is a
\nbusinessman.<\/p>\n
Kemal, a second-year engineering student, supports his
\nfriend's opinion.<\/p>\n
\"The majority of UI students may be able to afford to pay full
\nadmission fees, but please don't forget the others, no matter how
\nsmall the percentage is. They are the ones who really suffer when
\nfees are raised,\" said the 19-year-old student, who is from
\nProbolinggo in East Java.<\/p>\n
Unlike Hendra and Indri who receive monthly allowances of up
\nto Rp 1.5 million (US$165) from their parents, Kemal has to work
\nas a mechanic to pay his monthly rent of Rp 150,000. He doesn't
\nhave to pay tuition fees as he is on a scholarship.<\/p>\n
Effective this year, UI students will be charged between Rp
\n2.5 million to Rp 9.2 million annually, depending on their choice
\nof study. This excludes admission fees, which range between Rp 5
\nmillion and Rp 25 million -- for those who are selected through
\nthe national admission tests -- and between Rp 25 million and Rp
\n75 million -- for students who are admitted through the UI's own
\nselection tests.<\/p>\n
Students may have their entrance fee waived if they submit a
\nletter from their subdistrict chief stating that they come from a
\npoor family.<\/p>\n
Other state universities are applying a similar policy
\nregarding education costs, due to the government's decision to
\ncut their subsidies. The 2003 education system law allows
\nuniversities to collect public funds.<\/p>\n
Rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute
\nAzyumardi Azra suggested that the Indonesian government learn
\nfrom other countries, where the public and the government share
\nthe responsibility of financing the cost of higher education.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible for the government to cover all costs as it
\ndoes not have enough money. It's also not right for society to
\nbear the bulk of the burden,\" said Azyumardi.<\/p>\n
Another education expert, Arif Rachman, agreed with Azyumardi,
\nsaying state universities' dependence on the government would
\ndeprive them of their autonomy.<\/p>\n
Arif said universities could still admit students from poor
\nfamilies through a cross-subsidy program that would require rich
\nstudents to pay more; outsourcing, in which universities seek
\nfunds from foreign donors or the private sector; and
\ndiversification, whereby a university would sell copyrights and
\norganize seminars or workshops to make money.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/state-university-students-pay-less-fees-but-complain-more-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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